The Hiding Spaces

Conductors had to become very creative with hiding runaway slaves, especially in their own homes. If they were caught, they would be punished, along with all of the runaway slaves.

Here is one example of a hiding space, it was located in Reverend Alexander Dobblin's home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In 1810, he created sliding shelves that doubled as a hiding space for slaves in the crawl space behind them.

Floor boards, secret rooms, behind cupboards, and barns hid fugitives as they awaited transportation to the next town. Wagons with hidden compartments underneath hay or produce transported slaves. These hiding spaces were temporary and usually very cramped and uncomfortable. Below are examples of a wagon with a hidden compartment and a house in Cincinnati, which had a secret room under the floor. 

-Emily